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2026 Fantasy Baseball Player Profile

Jared Jones’ 2025 season was a frustrating "what if" for the Pirates, as the electric right-hander missed the entire campaign due to a torn ulnar collateral ligament. After an incredible 2024 rookie debut (121.2 IP, 4.14 ERA, 132 K), Jones suffered a setback during 2025 spring training that ultimately led to UCL internal brace surgery on May 21. Unlike a full Tommy John reconstruction, the internal brace procedure carries a shorter 10–12 month recovery timeline, allowing the Pirates to be cautiously optimistic about his availability for a significant portion of the 2026 season.

Entering 2026, the 24-year-old is officially on the 60-day Injured List, which was a procedural move made in early February to clear a roster spot for veteran José Urquidy. However, the news out of Bradenton is overwhelmingly positive. Jones threw his first live batting practice session on February 20, 2026, and director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk reported that Jones met every benchmark for his rehab. The organization is explicitly targeting a return to the major league mound around the one-year anniversary of his surgery (late May). Once he completes a rehab assignment, Jones is expected to slide directly into the middle of a rotation that has become much deeper in his absence.

For fantasy managers, Jones is the ultimate "high-priority stash" with an ADP around 383.